C.S.M 22258 Thomas Anderson Smith (DCM, CDG)

Thomas Anderson Smith was born in Birkenhead on 29th November 1888 the youngest of four surviving children of Walter Smith and his wife Ellen (nee Beck) who married in Brighton in 1871. His father was born in Hull, Yorkshire, and his mother in Brighton, Sussex. He was baptised 24^th March 1889 in St. Matthew's Church, Birkenhead. His siblings were: Ellen, Charles, Dorothea. Older siblings Edith died age 3 and Walter died age 2. Two others had sadly died in infancy.

The family had moved to the Liverpool area between 1876 and 1881, based on siblings’ deaths and censuses.

In 1881 they were at 69 Oriel Road, Bootle, and moved to Birkenhead between 1882 and 1889.

The 1891 Census shows the family are living at 25 Devonshire Road, Birkenhead. His father, Walter, is a 45 year old ironmonger, his mother is 42. Thomas is 2 years of age and has three siblings in the household, all of whom were born in Brighton; Ellen aged 19, Charles S. is 15, and Dorothea G. is 14. They have a visitor, John Higgs a 49 year old ironmonger and a general domestic servant, 21 year old Florence Dyer.   

The 1901 Census shows the family are still living at 25 Devonshire Road. His father is now shown as a 54 year old ironmonger dealer/employer, his wife is 52. The family ran a business Higgs and Smith, Ironmongers, 46 Lord Street. Thomas is 12 and has three siblings in the household; Ellen aged 28, Charles L. is a 26 year old mechanical engineer and Dorothea G is 24. The family employ one servant, 17 year old, Mary P Quigley. 

Thomas entered King William’s College, Isle of Man in September 1902 (when he was 13) and left in December 1904.

The 1911 Census shows the family are still at 25 Devonshire Road. Thomas' father, Walter, is a 65 year old ironmonger/dealer (employer), his mother, Ellen, is 62. His parents advise that they have been married for 41 years and have had eight children, four of whom have survived. Thomas is 22 years of age and is an ironmonger's shop assistant, his siblings are listed as Ellen is 40 and Charles Sydney is 37 years of age and is also an ironmongers shop assistant. The family also employ a domestic servant, Alice Evans aged 20. 

Thomas enlisted in Liverpool on 05^th November 1914 joining the 20th Battalion as Private 22258. He gave his age as 25 years, 315 days and his occupation ironmonger. He is described as being 5’5 and three quarter inches tall, weighing 130 lbs, with grey eyes and brown hair. 

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

He was appointed paid Lance Corporal on 12^th March 1915 and confirmed in rank on 06^th July 1915. On 11^th March 1916 he was promoted to Sergeant and confirmed in rank on 30^th July 1916. Promoted Warrant Office Class II.

On 18^th October 1916 Thomas was admitted to 97^th Field Ambulance with a septic leg.

His award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal was announced in the London Gazette on 22^nd October 1917:

“22258 C.S.M. T.A. Smith, Liverpool R. (Southport), for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When all his officers had become casualties except the company commander, he was of the greatest assistance to the latter in going from one part of the line to another and re-organising the platoons under very heavy shell and machine-gun fire. During the whole operation he displayed tireless energy and courage, which inspired the men with confidence.” 

The award was made in recognition of his part in the attacks at Passchendaele between 31st July and 04th August 1917. Quite why the citation shows Southport is anyone's guess  as he has no ties to Southport.

Thomas was declared missing on 26^th March 1918. His headstone shows the 20th Battalion but this battalion had been disbanded in France in February 1918 so it is likely that he was serving with one of the three remaining Liverpool Pals Battalions when he was killed.

He now rests in Bouchoir New British Cemetery, France. 

The village of Bouchoir passed into German hands on 27th March 1918 but was recovered by the 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade on 09th August 1918. The New British Cemetery was made after the Armistice when graves were brought there from several small Commonwealth cemeteries and from the battlefields round Bouchoir and south of the village. Almost all date from March, April or August 1918. The cemetery now contains 763 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 231 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to five casualties known or believed to be buried among them. Another special memorial commemorates an airman buried in Laboissiere German Cemetery whose grave could not be found. The graves in Plots I and II are numbered consecutively from 1 to 144. Those in Plot III are numbered from 1 to 135, and the same system applies to Plot IV. Plots V and VI are numbered by rows in the usual way. The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker.

The award of the Belgian Croix de Guerre was announced in the London Gazette on 15^th April 1918. This was for services in Belgium 1916 -17. His father received the medal on 22^nd February 1919.

He was listed on the official German List of the Dead, received 21^st January 1919. Subsequent to this the War Office declared death was presumed to have taken place on or since 26th March 1918. He served 3 years and 142 days. 

On 11^th June 1918 enquiries were made as to his whereabouts. 

His parents received their son’s war medals on 13^th May 1919 and 15^th November 1922 (plus scroll). The family were not officially notified of their son’s death until 25^th January 1919, death presumed on or since 26/3/1918.

On 18^th November 1919 personal effects to father c/o J. Gardner and Co., St. George’s Street, Liverpool

Probate of £249 10s wen to his father Walter.

A Pension was awarded to his mother Ellen

Thomas is commemorated on the King William’s College Roll of Honour, Isle of Man

We currently have no further information on Thomas Anderson Smith, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.